Target substance detection chip, target substance detection plate, target substance detection device and target substance detection method

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a target substance detection chip, a target substance detection device, and a target substance detection method, that can be manufactured easily in a small size at low costs with reduction of the number of parts involved in the detection chip constituted by an optical prism and a detection plate used for a SPR sensor and an optical waveguide mode sensor, that can detect a target substance quickly with high sensitivity, and in which an analyte liquid is easily delivered. [Solution] A target substance detection chip of the present invention includes: a plate-like transparent base portion which allows light to pass therethrough; and a flow path which is formed in one surface of the transparent base portion as a groove and through which an analyte liquid verifying a presence of a target substance is delivered in a length direction of the groove, wherein the flow path is formed such that at least an electric field enhancement layer is disposed on an inner surface of a groove portion formed to at least partly have inclined surfaces appearing in cross section to be inclined at a gradient to the surface of the transparent base portion, and wherein a part or entirety of an uppermost surface of the groove which contacts the analyte liquid serves as a detection surface for the target substance.

1 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A target substance detection method for detecting a target substance using a target substance detection device, where the target substance detection device, comprises:
 a target substance detection chip;   a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate an electric field enhancement layer ( 4 ) with light from a side of a surface of the target substance detection chip opposite to a surface of the target substance detection chip in which a flow path ( 63 ) is formed; and   a fluorescence detection unit,   wherein the fluorescence detection unit is configured to detect fluorescence emitted from the target substance or a fluorescent substance labeling the target substance in an analyte liquid present in the flow path ( 63 ), based on the irradiation with the light, and   wherein the target substance detection chip comprises:
 a plate-like transparent base portion ( 62 ) which allows light to pass therethrough; and 
 a flow path ( 63 ) which is formed in one surface of the transparent base portion ( 62 ) as a groove and through which the analyte liquid verifying a presence of the target substance is delivered in a length direction of the groove, the flow path ( 63 ) having an opening, 
   wherein the flow path ( 63 ) is formed such that at least the electric field enhancement layer ( 4 ) is disposed on an inner surface of a groove portion formed to at least partly having inclined surfaces appearing in cross section to be inclined at a gradient to the surface of the transparent base portion ( 62 ),   wherein a part or entirety of an uppermost surface of the groove which contacts the analyte liquid serves as a detection surface for the target substance, and characterized in that the target substance detection chip further comprises:
 a light blocking portion which light blocking portion is a portion that attenuates incident light, is disposed on an upper surface of the plate-like transparent base portion ( 62 ) except for the opening of the flow path ( 63 ), 
   wherein the upper surface is the surface opposite to a surface irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit,   the method comprising:
 delivering the analyte liquid verifying a presence of the target substance through the flow path ( 63 ) in the target substance detection chip ( 61 ); 
 irradiating the electric field enhancement layer with light from a side of a surface of the target substance detection chip ( 61 ) opposite to a surface of the target substance detection chip ( 61 ) in which the flow path ( 63 ) is formed; and 
 detecting fluorescence emitted from the target substance or the fluorescent substance labeling the target substance. 
   
     
     
         33 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 32 , wherein a surface of the transparent base portion opposite to the surface of the transparent base portion in which the flow path is formed is formed to be flat. 
     
     
         34 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 32 , wherein a right groove side surface and a left groove side surface forming the groove portion are formed to be laterally symmetric. 
     
     
         35 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 32 , wherein the electric field enhancement layer is a surface plasmon excitation layer that causes surface plasmon resonance. 
     
     
         36 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 35 , wherein a surface of the surface plasmon excitation layer is covered with a transparent dielectric. 
     
     
         37 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 32  wherein the electric field enhancement layer is formed of a thin layer is laminated on the groove portion and an optical waveguide layer is laminated on the laminated thin layer. 
     
     
         38 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 32 , wherein the detection surface is surface-treated so as to capture the target substance. 
     
     
         39 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 32 , wherein a lid is disposed on the surface of the transparent base portion in which the flow path is formed so as to block an opening of the flow path. 
     
     
         40 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 39 , wherein the lid comprises a seal material or a plate material, which is formed of a transparent resin material or a transparent glass material. 
     
     
         41 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 32 , wherein the light irradiation unit comprises:
 a light source; and   a polarizing plate configured to polarize light emitted from the light source into linearly polarized light.   
     
     
         42 . A target substance detection method for detecting a target substance using a target substance detection device, where the target substance detection device, comprises:
 a target substance detection plate;   a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate an electric field enhancement layer with light from a side of a surface of a target substance detection chip opposite to a surface of the target substance detection chip in which a flow path is formed; and   a fluorescence detection unit,   wherein the target substance detection plate comprises of:
 a translucent plate main body in which one or more accommodation units and flow paths are formed, the accommodation unit having a shape of a recess each accommodating the target substance detection chip which detects a target substance, the flow path allowing an analyte liquid verifying a presence of the target substance to be delivered to the accommodation unit; and 
 the target substance detection chip accommodated in the accommodation unit, 
   wherein a flow path in the target substance detection chip is connected to the flow path in the plate main body to form a detection groove into which the analyte liquid is introduced,   wherein the target substance detection chip comprises:
 a plate-like transparent base portion ( 62 ) which allows light to pass therethrough; and 
 a flow path ( 63 ) which is formed in one surface of the transparent base portion ( 62 ) as a groove and through which the analyte liquid verifying a presence of the target substance is delivered in a length direction of the groove, the flow path ( 63 ) having an opening, 
   wherein the flow path ( 63 ) is formed such that at least the electric field enhancement layer ( 4 ) is disposed on an inner surface of a groove portion formed to at least partly having inclined surfaces appearing in cross section to be inclined at a gradient to the surface of the transparent base portion ( 62 ),   wherein a part or entirety of an uppermost surface of the groove which contacts the analyte liquid serves as a detection surface for the target substance, and characterized in that the target substance detection chip further comprises:
 a light blocking portion which light blocking portion is a portion that attenuates incident light, is formed on an upper surface of the plate-like transparent base portion ( 62 ) except for the opening of the flow path ( 63 ) 
   wherein the upper surface is a surface opposite to a surface irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit,   the method comprising:
 delivering the analyte liquid verifying a presence of the target substance through the flow path ( 63 ) in the target substance detection chip ( 61 ); 
 irradiating the electric field enhancement layer with light from a side of a surface of the target substance detection chip ( 61 ) opposite to a surface of the target substance detection chip ( 61 ) in which the flow path ( 63 ) is formed; and 
 detecting fluorescence emitted from the target substance or the fluorescent substance labeling the target substance. 
   
     
     
         43 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 42 , wherein the plate main body comprises a disc-like member. 
     
     
         44 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 42 , wherein the plate main body is formed of a disc-like member and comprises:
 an analyte liquid storage unit ( 1105 ) configured to store the analyte liquid and a cleaning fluid storage unit ( 1106 ) configured to store a cleaning fluid, the analyte liquid storage unit and the cleaning fluid storage unit being disposed at positions closer to a center of a circle of the disc-like member than the one or more accommodation units ( 1104 ); and   a waste liquid storage unit ( 1107 ) disposed at a position farther from the center of the circle than the one or more accommodation units ( 1104 ) and configured to store a waste liquid including the analyte liquid and the cleaning fluid, and   each of the analyte liquid storage unit the cleaning fluid storage unit, and the waste liquid storage unit is connected to the one of more accommodation units via the flow path ( 1103 ) in the plate main body ( 1102 ) through which the analyte liquid, the cleaning fluid, and the waste liquid are delivered.   
     
     
         45 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 42 , wherein the detection groove appears in cross section to be shaped like a trapezoid. 
     
     
         46 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 45 , wherein a light blocking portion is formed on a bottom surface of the detection groove. 
     
     
         47 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 42 , wherein a plurality of detection grooves is formed in parallel with respect to one target substance detection chip. 
     
     
         48 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 47 , wherein a spacing is provided between groove portions of the adjacent detection grooves. 
     
     
         49 . The target substance detection method according to  claim 48 , wherein a light blocking portion is formed in an area forming the spacing between the groove portions. 
     
     
         50 . A target substance detection method for detecting a target substance using a target substance detection device, where the target substance detection device, comprises:
 a target substance detection chip;   a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate an electric field enhancement layer ( 4 ) with light from a side of a surface of the target substance detection chip opposite to a surface of the target substance detection chip in which a flow path ( 63 ) is formed; and   a fluorescence detection unit,   wherein the target substance detection chip comprises of:
 a plate-like transparent base portion ( 62 ) which allows light to pass there through; and 
 a flow path ( 63 ) which is formed in one surface of the transparent base portion ( 62 ) as a groove and through which an analyte liquid verifying a presence of the target substance is delivered in a length direction of the groove, the flow path ( 63 ) having an opening; 
   wherein the flow path ( 63 ) is formed such that at least the electric field enhancement layer ( 4 ) is disposed on an inner surface of a groove portion formed to at least partly having inclined surfaces appearing in cross section to be inclined at a gradient to the surface of the transparent base portion ( 62 ),   wherein a part or entirety of an uppermost surface of the groove which contacts the analyte liquid serves as a detection surface for the target substance, and characterized in that a light blocking portion is formed on a bottom surface of the groove,   wherein the light blocking portion is a portion that attenuates incident light,   the method comprising:
 delivering the analyte liquid verifying a presence of the target substance through the flow path ( 63 ) in the target substance detection chip ( 61 ); 
 irradiating the electric field enhancement layer with light from a side of a surface of the target substance detection chip ( 61 ) opposite to a surface of the target substance detection chip ( 61 ) in which the flow path ( 63 ) is formed; and 
 detecting fluorescence emitted from the target substance or the fluorescent substance labeling the target substance. 
   
     
     
         51 . A target substance detection method for detecting a target substance using a target substance detection device, where the target substance detection device, comprises:
 a target substance detection chip;   a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate an electric field enhancement layer ( 4 ) with light from a side of a surface of the target substance detection chip opposite to a surface of the target substance detection chip in which a flow path ( 63 ) is formed; and   a fluorescence detection unit,   wherein the target substance detection chip comprises of:
 a plate-like transparent base portion ( 62 ) which allows light to pass there through; and 
 a flow path ( 63 ) which is formed in one surface of the transparent base portion ( 62 ) as a groove and through which an analyte liquid verifying a presence of a target substance is delivered in a length direction of the groove, the flow path ( 63 ) having an opening; 
   wherein the flow path ( 63 ) is formed such that at least an electric field enhancement layer ( 4 ) is disposed on an inner surface of a groove portion formed to at least partly having inclined surfaces appearing in cross section to be inclined at a gradient to the surface of the transparent base portion ( 62 ),   wherein a part or entirety of an uppermost surface of the groove which contacts the analyte liquid serves as a detection surface for the target substance, and characterized in that the target substance detection chip further comprises:
 a lid ( 66 ) disposed on the transparent base portion so as to block the opening of the flow path ( 63 ); and 
 a light blocking portion ( 69 ) which light blocking portion is a portion that attenuates incident light, is disposed at a position on the lid ( 66 ) other than a position opposite to the opening of the flow path ( 63 ) 
   the method comprising:
 delivering the analyte liquid verifying a presence of the target substance through the flow path ( 63 ) in the target substance detection chip ( 61 ); 
 irradiating the electric field enhancement layer with light from a side of a surface of the target substance detection chip ( 61 ) opposite to a surface of the target substance detection chip ( 61 ) in which the flow path ( 63 ) is formed; and 
 detecting fluorescence emitted from the target substance or the fluorescent substance labeling the target substance.